ALEXANDER
When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the pain.
My head was aching badly enough that I kept my eyes closed for several seconds, hoping the pounding would ease if I didn't move. Unfortunately, it didn't. The moment I shifted my head, another sharp ache travelled from the back of my skull down into my neck.
I groaned quietly.
Then I remembered where I was.
I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling above me. For a few seconds, I couldn't understand why I was lying on the couch instead of in my bed. Then the events of the previous night slowly returned to me.
Cole.
The beer.
The conversation.
I turned my head carefully and immediately regretted it. My neck protested, and I winced before rubbing the back of it with one hand.
I looked across the room and saw that Col
